So, in my class I like to keep my students motivated to read for both 'read to self' time and when they have free time. In my class, I ask my students to keep track of how many books they read. We call it our reading log. I may have taken this idea from my grade 4 teacher - ohh the good old days when I would curl up on our classroom couch and read little house on the prairie and record how many pages I read in my reading log.

Now, I updated the way that reading log looked, but I didn't want to make it too difficult. Something quick, to the point and without a lot of 'fluff'. Here is how it looks.

I have seen so many cute ones with the smiley faces, and the parent signature as well, this one is specifically made for classroom use.

Here is what it looks like when it is being used:

1.) Write the date

2.) Write the title

3.) Write what page you started on

4.) Write what page you finished on

5.) Next day - Repeat. *Except* when a student continues reading the same book, I don't make them re-write the title. This is what they do:

- Make the little marks underneath it (I don't actually know what they are called - but I did this when I was in grade 4.)
- Put a star beside the end page when they finish a book. At the end of the year, we count how many stars they get! :)

The other day I got a letter in my mailbox at school. It was from Edson, Alberta. I had no idea what it was about. It was addressed like this...

So, I opened up the letter and there was a letter from a teacher and from a student. The student letter was from a girl named Kaylynn. She was asking my class how they were doing, if they had pets, and other questions out of curiosity.

The teacher letter explained that one student in my class was to reply to that letter, and everyone else got to choose a new location to send a letter. So hopefully by the end all of my student receive a letter back! What a fun challenge! Here are some of the places my students decided to write to.

If you want your class to be a part of the Great Canadian Mail Race, feel free to send me an e-mail, and I can send you the details!

So, here in blistering Manitoba, we are still grumbling about enjoying the cold weather! Today marks the Sunday after spring break.
Now, every year I set a few bucket list goals that I want to accomplish. I give myself the whole year and the aim is to complete 1 or 2 of those items on my list!

I know many people have lists such as these, but I wanted to share my 'Spring Break Bucket List Experience' with you.

One of the things I have always wanted to do ever since I was about 7 years old and my dad took me to a landing zone is SKYDIVE! Well, this year for spring break, my boyfriend and I went to Las Vegas with a few fun friends! This was the time that I was not going to go to Vegas and not go skydiving. So, I bit the bullet. I paid the 500 Canadian Dollars, and I got to plummet toward the Earth in hopes to land safely.

Spoiler alert, I'm still alive.

This was seriously the best experience of my life (other than motherhood and teaching of course). I absolutely L-o-v-e-d every second of my jump! Here are some pictures for you to check out of my Las Vegas Skydive Experience!